BÖNING AUTOMATIONSTECHNOLOGIE
THE BEATING ELECTRONIC HEART OF MARITIME
POWERED BY INSIDE MARINE
BÖNING AUTOMATIONSTECHNOLOGIE I PROFILE
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In the fast-moving world of superyachting and commercial marine electronics, Böning Automationstechnologie GmbH & Co KG has risen to the top of its market through its commitment to flexibility and innovation. Böning’s fully integrated bridge electronics solutions, which include everything from vessel control, navigation and communication systems to engine control and diagnostics, are uniquely bespoke to each installation. Richard Hagan spoke to the company’s Head of Sales, Marinko Vukancic, to find out how the company adapts its services to each client’s particular needs.
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wouldn’t be hyperbole to describe Germany’s Böning Automationstechnologie, based in Ganderkesee, on the outskirts of Bremen, as the beating heart of the superyachting and commercial shipping sectors. With its systems now installed in over 15,000 commercial ships and superyachts, Böning’s software and hardware are essential to the operation of so many vessels and are a feature in the daily lives of many seafarers.
A high-tech half century Established in 1977, Böning at first consisted of an engineering office which was later upscaled into a complete development and production facility. The company initially focused its efforts on the commercial shipping market but by 1996, the business was producing solutions for the fast-growing superyacht industry as well. Simultaneously, Böning began working with a major German marine engine manufacturer to develop and produce engine diagnostic components. “That was an important milestone for our global expansion,” said Marinko Vukancic, Böning’s Head of Sales. “It paved the way for us to become a well-known brand across the industry.” Böning’s global ambitions were accelerated during the 2008 global financial crisis. Its efforts during the period that fol-
lowed resulted in the company’s substantial international footprint. Today, Böning branches are well-established in Brazil, Croatia, Italy, Spain and the US, as well as various independent representatives and distributors supporting operations in key global locations. “Having such a large and established global network really allows us to comprehensively meet the service and delivery expectations of shipping companies and yacht owners,” Mr Vukancic noted.
Building bespoke bridges Böning designs, develops and manufactures bespoke electronic devices and systems for ship automation. In simple terms, this refers to the systems – whose front-end often takes the form of a series of screens – that allow a crew to view various aspects of the ship’s performance, location, speed and general status. Depending on the complexity of a particular installation, the screens will show engine diagnostics (temperatures, various statuses of different components), ship speed and location, radar and compass displays, GPS information, and the status of the different interior systems. These can include things like lights (internal and external), air conditioning, emergency sensors (smoke alarms, emergency water pumps etc), ballast tanks, stabilisers, audio systems and many, many more. The challenge that Böning’s teams must address with every new order, is the integration of all of those systems and sensors onto a single set of screens, or other control panels, on the ship’s bridge and elsewhere. But it’s a challenge that Böning has developed a formidable reputation for successfully tackling. The benefit of specifying our sophisticated infrastructure is that it allows us to use one or more multi-function displays for several systems that are all interfaced via our alarm, monitoring and control systems,” explained Mr Vukancic. “That reduces the number of different on-screen menus the user needs to learn, and it avoids mixing different hardware designs from different manufacturers.” The company has become so good at building these cleanly integrated bridge systems that it has become a key selling point for its products and services. “The glass touch screens common on leisure yachts are preferred because of their neat aesthetic,” said Mr Vukancic. “Our infrastructure allows us to combine all of those various other
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BÖNING AUTOMATIONSTECHNOLOGIE I PROFILE
systems into a single smart solution and it’s what enables this clean bridge concept. All the while providing a clear overview of the operation of the ship.”
Focus on flexibility Most of us are familiar with the speed at which consumer electronics are improving every year, so it should come as no surprise to hear that seafarers – and especially superyacht owners – expect to see similar levels of sophistication in the electronics and control systems installed on their vessels. But in a market in which almost every yacht is a completely bespoke one-off model, shipyards have come to rely absolutely on Böning’s unique flexibility, and its ability to adapt each system to the specific needs of a particular vessel. This trademark flexibility is due in large part to Böning’s uniquely comprehensive inhouse design, development and manufacturing abilities. “It allows us to react to customer requirements and demands faster and more independently,” Mr Vukancic noted. “It also allows us to provide a level of after-sales support that is unmatched in the industry. In 45 years of our company’s history, we’ve never had a case in which we couldn’t provide a certain spare part. Where devices are discontinued due to the unavailability of components, we either offer a redesign or we offer a compatible refit solution. It’s very important to us to offer the best possible service and, most of all, that our customers feel well taken care of.” The company boasts 120 staff members employed under its 4,000 sqm roof which boasts office space, production areas and storage space. Its development department is the company’s central nervous system and is the part of the business primarily responsible for bringing every Böning system to life. “That department is very competent and handles the same number of tasks you’d expect from similar departments in much 4
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bigger companies,” Mr Vukancic proudly explained. “It allows us to build every project from scratch and take it all the way to the completed product.”
Taking tech on the road With the onset of Covid and all of its associated lockdowns and travel restrictions, Böning adopted a novel approach to maintaining its business relationships. “All of our regular trade shows were cancelled,” Mr Vukancic recalled. “But we felt that if you cannot go to the exhibition, we’ll bring the exhibition to you! And so, we started our own roadshow,” he added, smiling. Böning promptly kitted out a large trailer with all of its latest technology and other innovations and began organising trips to countries across Europe, including Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, Turkey and Poland. “It was a huge success and what especially surprised us was the high quality of the conversations we had on site with our customers,” Mr Vukancic revealed. “It allowed us to meet the project managers and the engineers as well – the people who normally wouldn’t attend a trade fair. Nevertheless, now that Covid restrictions are more relaxed, we still look forward to meeting our customers again at upcoming trade fairs.”
An integrated approach Böning’s customers have shown increased demand for the ability to design and program their own Böning systems. The company has fully embraced that demand as part of its global expansion efforts and has consequently launched the Böning System Integrator Network.
This initiative seeks to train its customers to a level at which they are able to design and program their own system using Böning technology. “The integrator will be enabled, step-by-step, to manage their Böning projects independently of us. We’ll obviously support them wherever required, but the ability to handle these projects by themselves means that the integrator can generate his own added value. This is true not only during the new build phase but later, during after sales service too,” explained Mr Vukancic.
Selling excellent service In closing, Mr Vukancic pointed to an interesting anecdote about Günther Böning, the company’s founder and CEO, who has a wellknown mantra within the company that describes his and his team’s commitment to customer service: “The sale opens the door but the service keeps it open.” After nearly half a decade in business, Böning Automationstechnologie has built a reputation amongst its customers for providing the kind of service that exceeds the norm. Whether it’s replacing a 25-year old part with a brand new unit made to perfectly fit the original, or whether it’s jumping into a specially modified trailer on a cross-country tour to take its products to the customer when the customer couldn’t visit them, Böning Automationstechnologie continues to innovate not only in terms of the way it connects technology but also in how it connects people. And with its focus on the future harnessed to its robust design, engineering and production facilities, Böning Automationstechnologie looks set to comfortably add another successful half century to its first. n Inside Marine
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boening.com +49 4221 9475-0 info@boening.com Am Steenöver 4 27777 Ganderkesee Germany